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NHL Network analyst Barry Melrose joined NHL Live to discuss what contending teams need to do to find their "Pot of Gold," in other words what they need to accomplish to get to the ultimate prize of winning the Stanley Cup.

For the St. Louis Blues, who lead the race for the Presidents' Trophy with 99 points, their pot is full and it's now a matter of guarding it.

"The St. Louis Blues are playing great," Melrose said. [Ryan] Miller and [Steve] Ott have really given them another gear and more depth, so the Blues don't have to change a thing. They gotta get over the [Vladimir] Tarasenko [hand injury] without any bumps on the road, but certainly a great team right now playing great."

At 6:57 of the first period in the Maple Leafs/Capitals game, video review supported the referee's call on the ice that Joel Ward's shot deflected off of Jason Chimera's skate and into the Toronto net in a legal fashion. According to Rule 49.2 "A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player's skate who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a legitimate goal." Good goal Washington.

The Detroit Red Wings have lost four of five in March, scoring six goals in those four losses. They're also entering a crucial stretch in which 13 of their final 17 games will be against teams that occupied a Stanley Cup Playoff spot entering play Friday.

So a visit from the Edmonton Oilers, against whom the Red Wings have gone 11-0-1 since the start of the 2010-11 season, might be a good way to break out of that slump. But the Red Wings are not taking their opponent likely, especially with the Oilers posting a 3-2-1 record in March.

"It doesn't matter who you're playing, you can't take a night off. In today's day and age in the NHL anyone can beat anyone on any given night. You have to get ready and prepared the same way no matter who you're playing," goaltender Jimmy Howard told MLive.com. "We have got to win games. There's nothing else you can say."

Forward Johan Sundstrom, who was called up Thursday from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League, and defenseman Kevin Czuczman, who was signed Tuesday after completing his season with Lake Superior State University, each skated with the New York Islanders on Friday.

Sundstrom will make his NHL debut Friday when the Islanders host the San Jose Sharks.

Islanders coach Jack Capuano said Czuczman would play his first game for the Islanders soon. Sundstrom skated on the right wing during practice, alongside Casey Cizikas and Mike Halmo.

"I am very excited," Sundstrom told the Islanders website. "This is why you work so hard every day. Now I have an opportunity here so I am happy to be here and I'll hopefully get some points. I try to be a solid two-way player. I like to be physical and shoot the puck and skate a lot."

NHL Live with Steve Mears and Ken Daneyko, at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network, previews an eight-game Friday around the League. The marquee matchup of the night involves the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Anaheim Ducks, a game that figures to attract attention as much for the rival coaches, Patrick Roy and Bruce Boudreau, as for the action on the ice.

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I don't have a crystal ball. Predicting is a real complicated thing. If we stay healthy, have enough depth and get the good goaltending we think we're going to have, you can go all the way. But a lot of things have to happen. There's going to be a lot of teams that think the same thing. Everyone made deals. We're all are optimistic about where we'll end up.

— Rangers general manager Glen Sather after being asked if he's constructed a team that can win the Stanley Cup before their 4-1 win against the Predators on Monday